Bellows vs. Sleeve Air Bags
12/5/2013
When shopping for an air suspension system, you'll quickly discover that not all air springs are built the same. Two of the most common designs are bellows-style and sleeve-style air springs. While both use compressed air to improve ride quality and support vehicle loads, each is engineered for different applications.
Understanding the differences between these two air spring designs can help you choose the right suspension solution for your truck, SUV, commercial vehicle, or performance build.
What Are Bellows Air Springs?
Bellows-style air springs are constructed from heavy-duty reinforced rubber and feature one or more convoluted chambers. Their larger diameter allows them to hold more air volume, providing greater lifting force and load-handling capability than sleeve-style air springs. Because of their design, bellows air springs can often support the same load at lower air pressure than a sleeve-style spring.
Bellows air springs are commonly found on vehicles that regularly tow, haul, or carry heavy loads. They're ideal when there's enough suspension space to accommodate their larger size.
Benefits of Bellows Air Springs
Common Applications
What Are Sleeve Air Springs?
Sleeve-style air springs feature a flexible rolling sleeve design that allows them to maintain a smaller overall diameter. This compact construction makes them an excellent choice when installation space is limited or suspension packaging is tight.
Rather than focusing solely on maximum load support, sleeve-style air springs are engineered to provide ride control while fitting applications where a bellows-style air spring simply won't fit.
